What is BabysitterExchange ?
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BabysitterExchange is the world's first person-to-person service network established to help people like you connect with your community, creating online communities of close friends and family to exchange services in a non-monetary environment that fosters reciprocity.
Once in a BabysitterExchange community, members can interact with all other community members to exchange personal services. When community members need help, they simply submit Community Service Requests. The BabysitterExchange service automatically alerts all qualified and interested members of each request. The first interested member who responds can accept the request for help. The requestor will be automatically notified that the request has been accepted.
Once the acceptor completes a service request, the appropriate number of tokens are automatically withdrawn from the requestor's account and deposited in the acceptor's account.
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Is this service secure?
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Yes. The security and privacy of your data is our greatest concern.
BabysitterExchange uses the latest SSL encryption for its Secure Web Server for all transmissions of your data.
BabysitterExchange has gone a long way in providing security and privacy for your data by physical and procedural means as well, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to systems and only under very controlled circumstances. These systems are located in a secured, private data center protected by monitored alarms and multiple access controls.
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What is a token?
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A token is a non-monetary unit that can be exchanged within a BabysitterExchange community for the help you need with everyday tasks.
A "token" has many different names in other services: script, tickets, points, credits, service credits, and TimeDollars. Generally, these tokens have no monetary value and can not be redeemed for anything outside the BabysitterExchange service.
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Can I create or join more than one community?
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Yes. You certainly can.
Each registered BabysitterExchange user can create and/or join several communities. Search for all the communities in your area that meet your needs to increase your ability to get the help you need when you need it.
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How do I register with the BabysitterExchange service?
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You can register directly from the BabysitterExchange Welcome Page. Registration is as simple as filling in the required fields and accepting the BabysitterExchange Terms of Use.
You can
click here
to register now.
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How many tokens do I start with?
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The number of tokens each new community member starts with varies by community. The number of tokens provided to new members is specified in each community's settings which can be viewed even before you join a community.
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What happens when I run out of tokens?
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This will vary by community. Please contact your Community Captain for more information.
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Can I transfer my tokens from one community to another?
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No. Each token represents a unit of credit within a specific community. Because communities are made up of different members (i.e., not everyone in one community is also a member of another community) and because each community has the ability to price their services differently, it is not possible to transfer tokens from one community to another.
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How can I join an Existing Community?
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To join an existing community, go to your "My Communities" page.
If someone has invited you to join an existing community, enter the Security Key given to you by the community member in the space provided and click "Join."
If you have not been invited to join an existing community, you can either Search for a community to join or create your own community.
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How can I get a "Security Key" to join a community?
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A community's Captain is the only person that can provide a community's Security Key. You can send a Community Captain a message by searching for a community and then using the "Contact Community Captain" link.
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What does it take to create a Community?
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To create a community, go to your "My Communities" page.
Click "Create" and fill out the new community form.
You will need to name your new community and will be able to type in a description of the community. This description will be seen by people who choose to Search for a new community. It will provide them with information about your community and help them to decide if they would like to request to join your community.
Remember, the more members your community has, the more you increase the ability of your community to exchange services.
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How can I find communities with members near me?
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To search for a community to join, go to your "My Communities" page.
Fill in your ZIP / Postal Code and click "Search."
The system will search for existing comunities based upon geographical proximity to your ZIP / Postal Code in 5, 10 and 15 mile increments unless otherwise specified.
When the system has completed its search, you can fill out a Request to Join a community or email the Community Captain directly.
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How can I tell my friends about BabysitterExchange ?
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The best way to see the benefits of this service is by expanding your community of members. Adding more people to your community will increase your ability to exchange services.
Whenever you see the yellow envelope symbol, this is your cue to Tell-A-Friend about
BabysitterExchange
!
Click "Tell your friends about
BabysitterExchange
" and fill in the e-mail addresses of any friends and family you think would be interested in finding out about this service.
BabysitterExchange
will send each person an invitation customized with your personal greeting.
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What is a Community Captain?
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Each BabysitterExchange community has a "Community Captain." This individual is responsible for community maintenance as well as approving each new community member. The Community Captain also has the authority to resolve transaction disputes and to create token adjustments. The Community Captain's judgments are final.
Community Captains may receive a stipend - or small monthly payment in tokens - for their work on behalf of the community. This stipend is listed in the "community settings" for each neighborhood.
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How can I become a Community Captain?
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There are two ways to become a Community Captain:
1) Create a new community and invite your friends and family to join.
2) Transition into the Community Captain role for an existing community.
Communities have the ability to change their Community Captain at any time through the Community Captain functionality. A "Next Community Captain" and "Community Captain Transaction Date" are entered and the change is made automatically by the BabysitterExchange service.
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How can I get people to join my community?
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If you are not the Community Captain, you have two options for getting your friends and family to join your community:
1) Use the "tell-a-friend" functionality and have then request to join your community.
2) Ask your Community Captain to send your friends and family invitations or to provide them with the Community Security Key.
Community Captains have several ways to recruit new members of their communities:
1) Send invitations directly to friends and family.
2) Provide friends and family with the Community Security Key.
3) Process pending requests to join your community by either accepting or rejecting each request.
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Can I change my community's Security Key?
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The Community Captain is the only community member authorized to change a community's Security Key and they are encouraged to change their neighborhoods' Security Keys.
Use of this Security Key is at the discression of the Community Captain and allows your friends and family to join your community directly. This Security Key should be changed frequently to prevent fraudulent use.
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Can I disable the Security Key functionality?
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The Community Captain has the ability to disable the Security Key functionality. The Community Captain simply clears the "Security Key" field (i.e., use delete until the field is empty) on the Maintain Community Settings page and click "Save." This will disable the Security Key for your neighborhood.
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What is Double QualificationSM?
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Double QualificationSM is BabysitterExchange's proprietary answer to many of your privacy, security and trust concerns. Double Qualification has two major components:
1) Ensuring that your requests for help are broadcast to only those community members that you have approved and
2) allowing you to self-select the types of service you are willing to perform for each of your communities.
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How do I "approve" community members to perform services for me?
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Start from your "Community Detail" page for this community. From there click "Edit the list of members who can help me" and select the service for which you would like to qualify members.
You will see two columns of members. The left column contains all of the members that will receive your requests for help with this type of service. The right column contains all of the members that will NOT receive your requests for help with this type of service.
Use the arrows to the right or left of each name to move members from one column to the other.
By default, all of your neighbors will receive notification for each of your requests. Additionally, as new members join your community, they are also included among those this will receive notification of your requests.
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How can I limit the Community Service Requests about which I'm notified?
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Begin by clicking "Edit the list of services I'm willing to complete" from your "Community Detail" page for this community.
This page will include a listing of all the services that can be exchanged within this neigborhood. These services are divided into two columns. The left column contains the services for which you WILL receive notification of requests. The right column contains the service for which you WILL NOT receive notification.
Use the arrows to the left and right of each service to move services between each column.
By default, you will receive notification of requests for any type of service.
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When I have a need, how can I create a Service Request?
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Creating a Service Request alerts other community members that you would like help with something.
To create a Service Request, go to your "My Communities" page.
Click "New Request" and fill out the request form.
You will be able to choose from a menu of services. Select the one that most closely matches the type of service with which you need help.
Pricing information will appear below you're the type of service, letting you know how many community tokens you will have to "pay" a member to fill your request.
You will be prompted to provide additional information about your request. Please make sure to complete the form as accurately as possible.
Once you've finished, click "Submit Request."
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How can I find Service Requests with which I can help?
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To find a list of Service Requests that you could fill, go to your Community Detail page.
Click on "View the complete list of requests I can fill" to access the View Available Service Requests page.
The system will present you with only those requests that match the services you indicated you would have an interest in fulfilling in your Community Detail page.
You can change the list of services you are willing to fill at any time by accessing your Community Detail page and clicking on "Edit the list of services I am willing to complete."
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Once I've found a Service Request, how do I accept it?
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To accept a Service Request, go to your Community Detail page.
Click on "View the complete list of requests I can fill" to access the View Available Service Requests page.
Click on the Requestor's name to view that person's biography of on "More Details" to get more information about the Service Request (for example, start time and duration of task.)
Click "Accept this Request" if you would like to fill another member's Service Request. You will be directed to the Accept a Community Service Request page.
Read the agreement and, if you agree, click "I Accept this Request."
You will receive a confirmation letting you know that you successfully accepted the Service Request and are, therefore, responsible for its fulfillment.
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What do I do once a Service Requests has been completed?
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Once you have completed a Service Request you accepted, go to your "My Communities" page and click on "Mark a community request or obligation as complete."
Under "Service Requests I've Accepted," click "Complete."
Enter the final token value (the amount of tokens agreed upon for this service) in the box provided and click "Complete."
You will receive a confirmation page alerting you that you have successfully completed this Service Request and that the proper number of tokens have been transferred to your community token account. Your obligation is complete.
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How can I view my Transaction History
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To view your history of service transactions in your community, go to the Community Detail page.
Click "View my transaction history."
Using the pull down menu, select the starting and ending transaction dates and click "Get Transactions" to view the service transactions you posted or fulfilled during that time.
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What can I do if I disagree with a transaction against my token account?
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As a member of a community, you have the right to dispute each transaction that has either added or removed tokens from your community account. These disputes will be resolved by the community's Captain. The judgement of the Community Captain is final and can not be overturned by anyone at BabysitterExchange.
See
"How do I create a Dispute"
for more information.
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How do I create a Transaction Dispute?
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To create a Transaction Dispute, simply click on "Dispute" next to the transaction in question.
The "Create a Transaction Dispute" pop-up page will be displayed. Enter your reason for this duspute and/or any supporting comments in the space provided and click "Create Dispute."
This dispute will be sent directly to your Community Captain for resolution.
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What should I do if I can't complete a Community Service Request I've already accepted?
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If you find that you can not longer meet the needs of another community member after you have accepted their request for help, you must "re-assign" this Community Service Request (CSR) so another member of this community has the opportunity to help out. The "re-assign" link can be found on your Community Detail page just to the right of the CSR itself (in your list of "Service Requests I've Accepted".)
You should also notify the community member that created the CSR to inform them that you will no longer be able to lend a hand.
* Note - your Community Captain may have established a penalty for re-assigning CSR's. Please refer to your community's settings for more information.
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What should I do if I no longer need help with a CSR?
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If you find that you no longer have a need for which you've created a Community Service Request (CSR), you must "cancel" this request. You can find the "cancel" link on your Community Detail page just to the right of the CSR itself (in your list of "Service Requests I've Created."
You should also notify the community member that has accepted your CSR to inform them that you no longer need their assistance.
* Note - your Community Captain may have established a penalty for canceling CSR's. Please refer to your community's settings for more information.
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What if "Help" doesn't answer my question?
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Please use "Feedback" to send a message directly to the staff at BabysitterExchange. We review these messages daily and will respond just a quickly as we can.
To send feedback now,
click here
.
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How can I contact someone at BabysitterExchange?
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We welcome your comments.
You can use
Feedback
at any time to send a message to us here at BabysitterExchange. We review each of these messages daily and will respond just as quickly as we can.
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What is BabysitterExchange?